The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1887-09-17

Turns 10 one OF pity. II could not give you
as many shillings, miss. The stones are
clever limitations, and that is all. There is
not one genuine amongst those you have
shown me. Mr.. Skirrow, let me have your
opinion" 5s
The assistant confirms the unflattering
judgment, and does it with Sneer that l
felt disposed, though with no valid reason,
to resent.
The crimson tide has ebbed, and the girls
cheeks are blanched; her lips culver, and
at first no sound comes from them; her
eyes slowly fill with tears. l fear that she
may drop in a swoon, but this woman's
weakness she does not seem to share
There are seconds of intolerable suspense
FOR US all At last there is a half-stifed
cry Jack how could you!"
1t is plain that she accepts the situation,
and that her thoughts are even now busy
with the solution of her dark enigma. For
| the moment she has forgotten her environ
| ment, and she murmurs her vain protest
against the-to uS-unknown culprit whose
| duplicity, however exercised, has plunged
her into an abyss of shame. Then she
stammers an apology, accepts mechanically
at Mr.. Huntleys hands the shabby bag
into which he has gathered, by her per-
| mission, the dishonored treasures, and re-
tires, l question if in all Renford there is
heavier heart; and wonder, with eager
palpitating interest, who is Jack" and
what is the precise nature of the nefarious
trick he has perpetrated
Mr.. Huntley can explain little-only that
Miss Raine and her father (who is said to
be an artist are the new people at Bristol
Cottage
| The second of these pictures, imprinted
| so indelibly on the retina of my mind is
widely different in motif and in detail. The
| place is an ambulance tent, pitched, literally
enough, as some of US think, in the wilder
ness. The Egyptian troubles that began
with the riots and rebellion at Alexandria
have culminated"in the Soudan war. Cor
don-bravest of the brave-has reached
Khartoum. Ell Teb has been fought, and
and our troops are on their way back from
Tokar to Trinkitat. l am with them in the
capacity Of army surgeon, and there are
times when l satrise bitterly the longing
for adventure and idle dreams of distinction
to which l am indebted for the appointment
l hold. But self. reproaches are useless.
The tent is tenanted by four men, three of
whom have been wounded in a surprise
skirmsh-a mere outpost affair; the other
is the victim of camp accident The most
SteSS
Eastleigh. He has been badly dealt with
by a dying Arab spearman, has lost much
blood and himself believes that his last
hour is near. have done for him what is
possible, have attended to the needs of his
companions in misfortune, and have lin
gered by Eastleigh's side to test yet again
the security and sufficiency of his bandages
What it is in the poor fellows face that
strikes me with sense of familiarity, or
at least of previous acquaintance, [ can not
guess. But even in these dubious half
lights, am persuaded that some reminis-
cence should answer to the impression
thus created. Only-it fails to do so.
Doctor" Eastleigh family means.
'Well, my lad!" l respond.
'Tell me plainly. Have | chance?n
81 decidedly hope So" l reply, evasively.
"And hope isn't expectation" he says,
with curious smile.
am silent. dare not equivocate in such
a case as this; and l recognize, too, that,
though but private soldier, Eastleigh is a
man Of education, and quick to seize the
meaning of accents as well as of words.
II take it, you and L form the same opln-
ion, DOCTOR" he says, between Two terrible
paroxysms of pain: ''and the world won't
lose much if l do go; but-but-I wish
you'd do me favor. l can depend on YOU %
"Any thing that is in my power East
leigh"
give father living in England, and he
and l quarreled. was to blame | was a
sad scapegrace. But he thinks to this dav
robbed HIM. l didn't it was my cousin
Dick. Find kim, and tell him that. The
address,
But the eXertion is too much; the patient
relapses into Inconsistencies, and is re.
stored with difficulty. | forbid further
talk.
II quite understand what it is that YOU
wish of me, and will do as you request"
| say. "The address, shall find, if [ re-
quire it, with your kit. / hope it will be
unnecessary for me to search, and that
you'll live to explain to your father face to
face Now, silence Dickson will watch,
and send for me if wanted" And go out
into the darkness of the plain and muse
over solitary cigar until joined by couple
of regimental comrades. l can not forget
the face of the wounded soldier.
In describing the third of these mental
pictures, must explain that am now no
longer half a civilian and half a soldier
| Military stations and barrack hospitals
know Inc no more. A slender inheritance
has come to me from dear old maiden
aunt, the cheer of whose gentle encourage
ments | would to this day rather have had
than her money, and with it | have bought
a partnership with an ancient college friend
of my fathers. DR.. Hildreth has treated
me generously, for the sake of auld lang
syne; he and his wife-they have no chill
dren-are delightful people and Great
Gamble is quaint, healthy, we'll behaved
East Anglican town, with many another hui
morous incongruity about it beside that of
its name. Existence here is um-drum-
granted. But / am content-more than
content, since | have been honored with
the friendshipof Mrs. Brlstowe. Margaret
she is Mrs. Hildreths kinswoman, many
degrees removed, and thus have learned
the name-is widow, and had heard her
sad and romantic story before l met her
Her husband bore that title scarce an hour;
he fell in fit at the brides feet as he was
leaving the church door, and was dead
man before succor could arrive. The med
ical evidence showed that he was the vic
tim of heart disease, to which the excite
ment Of the day and the hour had admins
tered fatal impetus. So grievous shock
would abundantly account for the gravity
which seems marked feature of Mrs
| Bristowe's character. Not that she is
gloomy: her ace forhdS that for sha 10